Futurama: David X. Cohen Interview

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Tentacle porn, Blu-ray secrets and a true Futurama movie!

By Patrick Kolan

Two down, two to go. Futurama fans Australia-wide finally get a chance to grab their copies of Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs, the second feature-length Futurama release from the house of Matt Groening and our interview subject, David X. Cohen. In this interview, Cohen spills some serious beans about the current status of a proper theatrical release Futurama movie, and he also details the Blu-ray release of the current DVD movie series, special features, easter eggs and much, much more in this very entertaining chat.

'Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs' is out in Australia on August 6.

IGN AU: It's great to talk to you, David.

David X. Cohen: Thank you very much – we really appreciate all the coverage IGN has given us.

IGN AU: The last time we caught up with you specifically was 2002 – around season 2 of Futurama – and that brought a little geek-tear to my eye.

David X. Cohen: Yeah, we've been through a few 'ordeals' since then!

IGN AU: …That's one way of putting it, yeah. Hard hitting question first: how much Japanese tentacle porn did you guys watch while coming up with the love story in Beast with a Billion Backs?

A rare photo of the man himself. Give it up for David Cohen, everybody!

David X. Cohen: [laughs] I find it hilarious that you ask that question because, uh, I'm nervous to say this but Matt Groening was the driving force in insisting that we research that area. 'Research' is putting it a little too strongly [laughs] but I'd say as far as the cover design of the box in particular – that subject did come up.

I'd describe it more as, the discussion did come up on the subject of that fetish, so it didn't pass unremarked on! [laughs]

IGN AU: You obviously know your market pretty well!

David X. Cohen: [laughs] Yeah!

IGN AU: Wow, I thought that was going to be a really oddball question, but it really paid off!

David X. Cohen: It was on our minds! Anyone who says otherwise was lying!

IGN AU: You've seen the success of the first DVD movie release, Bender's Big Score; how much notice did the team take of the fan reaction?

David X. Cohen: Well, we were very pleasantly surprised. I mean, we knew the hardcore fans would be happy to have it back, but overall the word I got – which may get filtered a little bit – was that people were pleased with it. And as far as the success of it, it sold very well and, more importantly, it sold much better than FOX expected.

IGN AU: They never expect anything out of Futurama.

David X. Cohen: No, their expectations were low and therefore we are able to surpass them. But as far as I know, it actually greatly surpassed their expectations for Bender's Big Score. And then, just today, I was able to email around [that] we managed to occupy the number one best-seller spot with Beast with a Billion Backs on Amazon in the US, Canada and the UK. We bounced around in and out, but we hit number one in all three of those markets. …I'm hyping that up with FOX executives! Somebody will notice.

IGN AU: Congratulations and well deserved. But what does that mean for the future of the series?

David X. Cohen: Well, I've been telling people that we're cautiously optimistic. The success is apparent and FOX has said as much – but they may not make that phone call and say they want more. And 'more' could be one of several forms.

It could be DVD or it could be more episodes for cable or the FOX Network here in the US, or it could be a real feature movie, it could be on the internet, a board game… [laughs] The call has not come in, but we think there is some reason for optimism.